There was a small section in Saturday's Straits Times whereby someone queried if MM Lee is redundant? The disingenous answer given by a PAP leader was that if the voters feel this way, then they should vote him out in the elections.
Let's take it objectively, or less subjectively.
When you have a Prime Minister, why do you need a Senior Minister or a Minister Mentor?
By definition, the buck stops at the Prime Minister.
In that sense, the post of Minister Mentor or Senior Minister is redundant.
Singapore's politics appears to lie in the encouragement of unworthy opposition.
That this is indeed the case lies in the acumen of MM Lee.
If we can assume that the purpose of a political party is to stay in power, then MM Lee has achieved this purpose admirably as the PAP has been in power since independence.
Thus going by the purpose of a political party, MM Lee is certainly not redundant as his role as goalkeeper keeps off worthy opponents even as the party's strikers missed the open goalpost.
However the question was directed at MM Lee's role in the Government - is he redundant?
Given that the PAP makes up the Singapore Government (because the seats of power in each Ministry are held by PAP appointees), then the sustainance of the Singapore Government as it is in the past and present, lies in the existence of MM Lee (assumption).
But the pursuit of this argument creates its own problem because it leads to the question - in which aspect of the Singapore Government does MM Lee creates value? Some will point to the government website where the roles and duties of the MM are clearly spelt out.
Doubtless as in all opinions, there will be some who disagree and given the different perspectives, all may well be right.
Speaking for myself, I am happier to have MM Lee around.
Let's take it objectively, or less subjectively.
When you have a Prime Minister, why do you need a Senior Minister or a Minister Mentor?
By definition, the buck stops at the Prime Minister.
In that sense, the post of Minister Mentor or Senior Minister is redundant.
Singapore's politics appears to lie in the encouragement of unworthy opposition.
That this is indeed the case lies in the acumen of MM Lee.
If we can assume that the purpose of a political party is to stay in power, then MM Lee has achieved this purpose admirably as the PAP has been in power since independence.
Thus going by the purpose of a political party, MM Lee is certainly not redundant as his role as goalkeeper keeps off worthy opponents even as the party's strikers missed the open goalpost.
However the question was directed at MM Lee's role in the Government - is he redundant?
Given that the PAP makes up the Singapore Government (because the seats of power in each Ministry are held by PAP appointees), then the sustainance of the Singapore Government as it is in the past and present, lies in the existence of MM Lee (assumption).
But the pursuit of this argument creates its own problem because it leads to the question - in which aspect of the Singapore Government does MM Lee creates value? Some will point to the government website where the roles and duties of the MM are clearly spelt out.
Doubtless as in all opinions, there will be some who disagree and given the different perspectives, all may well be right.
Speaking for myself, I am happier to have MM Lee around.